New coilover ticking noise
 

About a week ago I purchased a set of Apexi N1 EXV coils. A friend and I installed them and after a few days of driving on them I've started to hear a clicking/ticking noise from the front left coilover. Does anyone know a potential fix for this issue? Thanks for your help.

Is everything torqued to spec?

Did you set your preload correctly?

Did you use a screwdriver and hammer on the locking ring so it won't back off?

The biggest culprit I've seen is the top lock nut for the strut to the camber plate working it's way loose, I tend to put some thread locker on there. Other than that jack the car up and double check the torque on everything in that area. It's still possible that it's something internal or binding but this soon after install it's more likely to be an oversight.

@go_a_way1
I know everything isn't torqued to exact specs because i'm not sure the recommended specs. I didn't touch the preload before I put them in. I didn't use a screw driver and hammer on the locking ring I just used the coilover wrenches and tightened it to what i though was suitable.
@Gear_One_Performance
I'm not sure which top lock nut your speaking about. Are you talking about the one nut under the damping adjustment knob?

Sorry for my ignorance I just a bit confused and new to this. Here is a link to the coils I purchased. LINK

http://i.imgur.com/N0sdqxA.jpg
That one, excuse the crude MS paint there but yeah I've seen those loosen up on rare occasions.

I checked that nut and it wasn't loose. I checked the locking collar and it was also fine.

When does it happen? All the time? Low speed? High speed? Turning? Going forwards? Backwards? Both?

Are the 3 nuts all tight enough up on top? What about the 2 bottom bolts? What about your end links, good and tight? Set to the proper length?

Video would help too if it's possible.

Sorry for a later response the usual, I didn't get the mention. It could be the preload was not enough from the factory I am not sure if all companies pre set it. Do you get any binding or poping sounds when you turn to full lock and your not moving? Also this probably wont help but it might be worth tightening anything you can while the suspension is loaded i.e. on the ground not jacks. Hammer and screwdriver is just a precaution as it is not unusual for locking rings to back off over use.

And like cole said any more details might help us help you a little more

The clicking sound is at an speed over 10 mph/16 kph and is usually when i go over small bumps in the road. The clicking sound happens a lot maybe 15 times a minute. I double check the tightness of all the bolts and they are very tight. The only thing i'm not sure about is the sway bar end links. Before I put them in i made sure they were the same or almost exact same length. Ill try to get a video if possible.

Check the sway bar endlinks. Mine have come loose on two occasions. My other guess is the spring seat and height adjustment collars being loose or not enough preload.

Ill check the endlinks. Is it possible there too short or too long on both sides?

Anything is possible. They are supposed to be bolted on when car is on the ground. But you don't have much choice if they aren't adjustable. Many coilover kits come with non-adjustable front end links, and none for the rear, so it is likely that they are not the ideal length.

It is probably the endlinks causing your problem. They are hard to get to, and the hard to torque down then compared to everything else.

Get a torque wrench. I'm not sure how you can tell if things are tight without one?

I'm not even sure how I would bolt the end links on when the car is on the ground. Also I have a torque wrench I just don't know all the torque specs for everything.

Take it off and rebuild it, and torque it all down to spec!

In before totaled

hahaha!!

I didn't mean a rebuild rebuild, sorry.

I meant take it off and inspect the colars and hat, take it apart and put it back together...maybe the collar is on there upside down~

oh hahaha!! I was hoping he would try and do a full rebuild :lol:but your right its not a bad idea to take it off and check everything out and make sure it was assembled correctly.

Collar being upside down happens ALL THE TIME! Lol no problem

The Coilovers came built so I doubt Apexi put the collar on wrong. And where can I find a list of torque specs for all the suspension? Later ill take out the strut and inspect it.

This might help

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12864

I just read that post and it would appear I did everything correct except the torque specs which ill fix tonight.

I've never used a torque wrench on a suspension, except on lug nuts. When my strut collar nut was making noise, you could turn it with a finger.